Wagering Method

ABSTRACT

A method for placing a secondary wager on a comparative card game such as blackjack, baccarat or mini-baccarat; in addition to a primary wager. A winner of the secondary wager is determined based on a card total for a dealt player first card and a dealer first card or banker first card if in baccarat or mini-baccarat. The player first card and the dealer first card may be compared to identify a card total, where the combinative hand value of both first cards must equal a predetermined sum, including, without limitation, 8, or 18, or 9, or 19. The player may win or lose the secondary wager based on the card total. A payout ratio may be utilized to determine a payout or loss for the player. After the secondary wager is resolved, the game continues to determine the outcome and winning primary wager for the primary game.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present Utility patent application claims priority benefit of the[U.S. provisional application for patent Ser. No. 61/835,348 filed onJun. 14, 2013 under 35 U.S.C. 119(e). The contents of this relatedprovisional application are incorporated herein by reference for allpurposes to the extent that such subject matter is not inconsistentherewith or limiting hereof.

RELATED CO-PENDING U.S. PATENT APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER LISTING APPENDIX

Not applicable.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office,patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rightswhatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

One or more embodiments of the invention generally relate to wagering ina card game. More particularly, the invention relates to a method forplacing an optional secondary wager on a secondary game, whilesimultaneously playing a primary game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following background information may present examples of specificaspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts,or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educatethe reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to beconstrued as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof,to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.

The following is an example of a specific aspect in the prior art that,while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as toadditional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limitingthe present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated orimplied therein or inferred thereupon. By way of educational background,another aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of is thatthe card came of blackjack is a comparing card game between a player anddealer. The players compete against the dealer but not against any otherplayers. Blackjack is played with one or more decks of 52 cards. Theobject of the game is to reach 21 points or to reach a score higher thanthe dealer without exceeding 21.

Typically, the players are dealt an initial two card hand and add thetotal of their cards. Face cards, such as, Kings, Queens, and Jacks arecounted as ten points. The player and dealer can count an Ace card as1-point or 11 points. All other cards are counted as the numeric valueshown on the card. After receiving their initial two cards, players havethe option of getting a “hit,” which means taking an additional card, orsiting with the card they already have.

Often, a wager, or gamble in cards, is an agreement under which eachplayer pledges a certain amount to the other depending on the outcome ofan unsettled matter, such as a card total. The wager can be large orsmall.

In many instances, blackjack wagers offer a side bet on various outcomesincluding: a player hand and dealer's up card sum to 19, 20, or 21; aplayer initial hand is a pair; a player's initial hand is suited, suitedand connected; and a player's initial hand plus dealer's card makes aflush, straight, or three-of-a-kind poker hand, such as 21+3.

In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniquesare not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in whichlike reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an exemplary game table for a systemfor placing a secondary wager on a card game, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart diagram for a method for placing asecondary wager on a card game, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart diagram for a method for placing asecondary wager on a blackjack card game, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart diagram for a method for placing asecondary wager on a mini baccarat card game, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram depicting a conventionalclient/server communication system.

Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are notnecessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailedfigures and description set forth herein.

Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to theFigures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate thatthe detailed description given herein with respect to these figures isfor explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limitedembodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled inthe art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention,recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, dependingupon the needs of the particular application, to implement thefunctionality of any given detail described herein, beyond theparticular implementation choices in the following embodiments describedand shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations ofthe invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit withinthe scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read asplural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, whereappropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply thatthe two are mutually exclusive.

It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limitedto the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturingtechniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary.It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used forthe purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is notintended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be notedthat as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is areference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof knownto those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a referenceto “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or meansand may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions usedare to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, theword “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical“or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the contextclearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to beunderstood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures.Language that may be construed to express approximation should be sounderstood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skillin the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods,techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods,techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to thosedescribed herein may be used in the practice or testing of the presentinvention. Structures described herein are to be understood also torefer to functional equivalents of such structures. The presentinvention will now be described in detail with reference to embodimentsthereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modificationswill be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations andmodifications may involve equivalent and other features which arealready known in the art, and which may be used instead of or inaddition to features already described herein.

Although Claims have been formulated in this Application to particularcombinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of thedisclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature orany novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly orimplicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates tothe same invention as presently claimed in any Claim and whether or notit mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does thepresent invention.

Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments mayalso be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely,various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of asingle embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitablesubcombination. The Applicants hereby give notice that new Claims may beformulated to such features and/or combinations of such features duringthe prosecution of the present Application or of any further Applicationderived therefrom.

References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,”“various embodiments,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of theinvention so described may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes theparticular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated useof the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” donot necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.

Headings provided herein are for convenience and are not to be taken aslimiting the disclosure in any way.

The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of theitems are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise.

Devices or system modules that are in at least general communicationwith each other need not be in continuous communication with each other,unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices or systemmodules that are in at least general communication with each other maycommunicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components in communicationwith each other does not imply that all such components are required. Onthe contrary a variety of optional components are described toillustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the presentinvention.

As is well known to those skilled in the art many careful considerationsand compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimalmanufacture of a commercial implementation any system, and inparticular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercialimplementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of thepresent invention may configured according to the needs of theparticular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s),result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachingsrelated to any described embodiment of the present invention may besuitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improvedand/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skillsand known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation thataddresses the needs of the particular application.

A “computer” may refer to one or more apparatus and/or one or moresystems that are capable of accepting a structured input, processing thestructured input according to prescribed rules, and producing results ofthe processing as output. Examples of a computer may include: acomputer; a stationary and/or portable computer; a computer having asingle processor, multiple processors, or multi-core processors, whichmay operate in parallel and/or not in parallel; a general purposecomputer; a supercomputer; a mainframe; a super mini-computer; amini-computer; a workstation; a micro-computer; a server; a client; aninteractive television; a web appliance; a telecommunications devicewith internet access; a hybrid combination of a computer and aninteractive television; a portable computer; a tablet personal computer(PC); a personal digital assistant (PDA); a portable telephone;application-specific hardware to emulate a computer and/or software,such as, for example, a digital signal processor (DSP), afield-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), an application specific instruction-set processor(ASIP), a chip, chips, a system on a chip, or a chip set; a dataacquisition device; an optical computer; a quantum computer; abiological computer; and generally, an apparatus that may accept data,process data according to one or more stored software programs, generateresults, and typically include input, output, storage, arithmetic,logic, and control units.

Those of skill in the art will appreciate that where appropriate, someembodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in network computingenvironments with many types of computer system configurations,including personal computers, hand-held devices, multi-processorsystems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics,network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Whereappropriate, embodiments may also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by local and remote processingdevices that are linked (either by hardwired links, wireless links, orby a combination thereof) through a communications network. In adistributed computing environment, program modules may be located inboth local and remote memory storage devices.

“Software” may refer to prescribed rules to operate a computer. Examplesof software may include: code segments in one or more computer-readablelanguages; graphical and or/textual instructions; applets; pre-compiledcode; interpreted code; compiled code; and computer programs.

The example embodiments described herein can be implemented in anoperating environment comprising computer-executable instructions (e.g.,software) installed on a computer, in hardware, or in a combination ofsoftware and hardware. The computer-executable instructions can bewritten in a computer programming language or can be embodied infirmware logic. If written in a programming language conforming to arecognized standard, such instructions can be executed on a variety ofhardware platforms and for interfaces to a variety of operating systems.Although not limited thereto, computer software program code forcarrying out operations for aspects of the present invention can bewritten in any combination of one or more suitable programminglanguages, including an object oriented programming languages and/orconventional procedural programming languages, and/or programminglanguages such as, for example, Hyper text Markup Language (HTML),Dynamic HTML, Extensible Markup Language (XML), Extensible StylesheetLanguage (XSL), Document Style Semantics and Specification Language(DSSSL), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Synchronized MultimediaIntegration Language (SMIL), Wireless Markup Language (WML), Java™,Jini™, C, C++, Smalltalk, Perl, UNIX Shell, Visual Basic or Visual BasicScript, Virtual Reality Markup Language (VRML), ColdFusion™ or othercompilers, assemblers, interpreters or other computer languages orplatforms.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

A network is a collection of links and nodes (e.g., multiple computersand/or other devices connected together) arranged so that informationmay be passed from one part of the network to another over multiplelinks and through various nodes. Examples of networks include theInternet, the public switched telephone network, the global Telexnetwork, computer networks (e.g., an intranet, an extranet, a local-areanetwork, or a wide-area network), wired networks, and wireless networks.

The Internet is a worldwide network of computers and computer networksarranged to allow the easy and robust exchange of information betweencomputer users. Hundreds of millions of people around the world haveaccess to computers connected to the Internet via Internet ServiceProviders (ISPs). Content providers (e.g., website owners or operators)place multimedia information (e.g., text, graphics, audio, video,animation, and other forms of data) at specific locations on theInternet referred to as webpages. Websites comprise a collection ofconnected, or otherwise related, webpages. The combination of all thewebsites and their corresponding webpages on the Internet is generallyknown as the World Wide Web (WWW) or simply the Web.

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or blockdiagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, whichcomprises one or more executable instructions for implementing thespecified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in somealternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occurout of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown insuccession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or theblocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending uponthe functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

Further, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or the likemay be described in a sequential order, such processes, methods andalgorithms may be configured to work in alternate orders. In otherwords, any sequence or order of steps that may be described does notnecessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in thatorder. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in anyorder practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously.

It will be readily apparent that the various methods and algorithmsdescribed herein may be implemented by, e.g., appropriately programmedgeneral purpose computers and computing devices. Typically a processor(e.g., a microprocessor) will receive instructions from a memory or likedevice, and execute those instructions, thereby performing a processdefined by those instructions. Further, programs that implement suchmethods and algorithms may be stored and transmitted using a variety ofknown media.

When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readilyapparent that more than one device/article (whether or not theycooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article. Similarly,where more than one device or article is described herein (whether ornot they cooperate), it will be readily apparent that a singledevice/article may be used in place of the more than one device orarticle.

The functionality and/or the features of a device may be alternativelyembodied by one or more other devices which are not explicitly describedas having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments of thepresent invention need not include the device itself.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any mediumthat participates in providing data (e.g., instructions) which may beread by a computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may takemany forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatilemedia, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example,optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile mediainclude dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutesthe main memory. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wireand fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupledto the processor. Transmission media may include or convey acousticwaves, light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as thosegenerated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) datacommunications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, forexample, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, anyother magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punchcards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, aRAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip orcartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other mediumfrom which a computer can read.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carryingsequences of instructions to a processor. For example, sequences ofinstruction (i) may be delivered from RAM to a processor, (ii) may becarried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or (iii) may beformatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such asBluetooth, TDMA, CDMA, 3G.

Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to thosedescribed may be readily employed, (ii) other memory structures besidesdatabases may be readily employed. Any schematic illustrations andaccompanying descriptions of any sample databases presented herein areexemplary arrangements for stored representations of information. Anynumber of other arrangements may be employed besides those suggested bythe tables shown. Similarly, any illustrated entries of the databasesrepresent exemplary information only; those skilled in the art willunderstand that the number and content of the entries can be differentfrom those illustrated herein. Further, despite any depiction of thedatabases as tables, an object-based model could be used to store andmanipulate the data types of the present invention and likewise, objectmethods or behaviors can be used to implement the processes of thepresent invention.

A “computer system” may refer to a system having one or more computers,where each computer may include a computer-readable medium embodyingsoftware to operate the computer or one or more of its components.Examples of a computer system may include: a distributed computer systemfor processing information via computer systems linked by a network; twoor more computer systems connected together via a network fortransmitting and/or receiving information between the computer systems;a computer system including two or more processors within a singlecomputer; and one or more apparatuses and/or one or more systems thatmay accept data, may process data in accordance with one or more storedsoftware programs, may generate results, and typically may includeinput, output, storage, arithmetic, logic, and control units.

A “network” may refer to a number of computers and associated devicesthat may be connected by communication facilities. A network may involvepermanent connections such as cables or temporary connections such asthose made through telephone or other communication links. A network mayfurther include hard-wired connections (e.g., coaxial cable, twistedpair, optical fiber, waveguides, etc.) and/or wireless connections(e.g., radio frequency waveforms, free-space optical waveforms, acousticwaveforms, etc.). Examples of a network may include: an internet, suchas the Internet; an intranet; a local area network (LAN); a wide areanetwork (WAN); and a combination of networks, such as an internet and anintranet.

As used herein, the “client-side” application should be broadlyconstrued to refer to an application, a page associated with thatapplication, or some other resource or function invoked by a client-siderequest to the application. A “browser” as used herein is not intendedto refer to any specific browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Safari,FireFox, or the like), but should be broadly construed to refer to anyclient-side rendering engine that can access and displayInternet-accessible resources. A “rich” client typically refers to anon-HTTP based client-side application, such as an SSH or CFIS client.Further, while typically the client-server interactions occur usingHTTP, this is not a limitation either. The client server interaction maybe formatted to conform to the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) andtravel over HTTP (over the public Internet), FTP, or any other reliabletransport mechanism (such as IBM® MQSeries® technologies and CORBA, fortransport over an enterprise intranet) may be used. Any application orfunctionality described herein may be implemented as native code, byproviding hooks into another application, by facilitating use of themechanism as a plug-in, by linking to the mechanism, and the like.

Exemplary networks may operate with any of a number of protocols, suchas Internet protocol (IP), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and/orsynchronous optical network (SONET), user datagram protocol (UDP), IEEE802.x, etc.

Embodiments of the present invention may include apparatuses forperforming the operations disclosed herein. An apparatus may bespecially constructed for the desired purposes, or it may comprise ageneral-purpose device selectively activated or reconfigured by aprogram stored in the device.

Embodiments of the invention may also be implemented in one or acombination of hardware, firmware, and software. They may be implementedas instructions stored on a machine-readable medium, which may be readand executed by a computing platform to perform the operations describedherein.

More specifically, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art,aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method orcomputer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present inventionmay take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirelysoftware embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code,etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that mayall generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or“system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take theform of a computer program product embodied in one or more computerreadable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodiedthereon.

In the following description and claims, the terms “computer programmedium” and “computer readable medium” may be used to generally refer tomedia such as, but not limited to, removable storage drives, a hard diskinstalled in hard disk drive, and the like. These computer programproducts may provide software to a computer system. Embodiments of theinvention may be directed to such computer program products.

An algorithm is here, and generally, considered to be a self-consistentsequence of acts or operations leading to a desired result. Theseinclude physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, thoughnot necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical ormagnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined,compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times,principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals asbits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers or the like.It should be understood, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, and as may be apparent from thefollowing description and claims, it should be appreciated thatthroughout the specification descriptions utilizing terms such as“processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” or the like,refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system,or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transformdata represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities within thecomputing system's registers and/or memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computing system'smemories, registers or other such information storage, transmission ordisplay devices.

In a similar manner, the term “processor” may refer to any device orportion of a device that processes electronic data from registers and/ormemory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data thatmay be stored in registers and/or memory. A “computing platform” maycomprise one or more processors.

Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure may also includetangible and/or non-transitory computer-readable storage media forcarrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structuresstored thereon. Such non-transitory computer-readable storage media canbe any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose orspecial purpose computer, including the functional design of any specialpurpose processor as discussed above. By way of example, and notlimitation, such non-transitory computer-readable media can include RAM,ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storageor other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be usedto carry or store desired program code means in the form ofcomputer-executable instructions, data structures, or processor chipdesign. When information is transferred or provided over a network oranother communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, orcombination thereof) to a computer, the computer properly views theconnection as a computer-readable medium. Thus, any such connection isproperly termed a computer-readable medium. Combinations of the aboveshould also be included within the scope of the computer-readable media.

While a non-transitory computer readable medium includes, but is notlimited to, a hard drive, compact disc, flash memory, volatile memory,random access memory, magnetic memory, optical memory, semiconductorbased memory, phase change memory, optical memory, periodicallyrefreshed memory, and the like; the non-transitory computer readablemedium, however, does not include a pure transitory signal per se; i.e.,where the medium itself is transitory.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference toembodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Thereare various types of methods for placing wagers in a game that may beprovided by preferred embodiments of the present invention. In oneembodiment of the present invention, a wagering method provides a methodfor placing a secondary wager on a comparative card game, such asblackjack, baccarat or mini-baccarat, in addition to a primary wager. Awinner of the secondary wager is determined based on a card total for adealt player first card and a dealer first card. The player first cardand the dealer first card may be compared to identify a card total,where the combinative hand value of both first cards must equal apredetermined sum, including, without limitation, 8, or 18, or 9, or 19.The player may win or lose the secondary wager based on the card total.A payout ratio may be utilized to determine a payout or loss for theplayer. After the secondary wager is resolved, the game continues todetermine the outcome and winning primary wager for the primary game.

The system may perform the wager with a comparative card game. Thecomparative card game may include, without limitation, blackjack, poker,baccarat, and mini baccarat. The comparative card game may comprise agame between a player and a dealer. The goal of the card game requiresthe player to reach or approach a predetermined hand value, or cardtotal of the cards in play in relation to the dealer (also referred asbanker in baccarat or mini-baccarat0. A player may play the comparativecard game to place a primary wager and a secondary wager, both in thesame game. The secondary wager may be made and resolved at an early partof the card game. Afterwards, the card game may continue with theprimary wager.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the system may include agame table for playing both the primary game and a secondary game. Thesecondary game may initially be played to resolve a secondary wager. Theprimary game may continue after the secondary wager is resolved, basedon the same cards dealt during the secondary game. In one embodiment ofthe secondary game, a dealer may deal a first card to a player on thegame table. The dealer may also have a dealer first card, or up card.The first card and the dealer first card may be utilized for both theprimary wager and the secondary wager. In either case, additional cardsmay be dealt to continue the primary game. Upon acceptance of asecondary wager by the player, the player first card and the dealerfirst card may be utilized for the secondary wager. The player firstcard and the dealer first card may be segregated onto a secondary wagerportion of the game table. A card total of both the player first cardand the dealer first card may be utilized to determine the winner of thesecondary wager. The card total may include a summation of the value ofthe first card and the dealer first card, or the suit equivalents forthe cards. In one alternative embodiment, the wagering system mayutilize a tertiary wager based on a second card dealt to the player.

In one embodiment, a predetermined card total may be utilized todetermine the winner of the secondary wager. If the card total of thefirst card and the up card is 8, 18, 9, or 19, the player may win thesecondary wager. In some embodiments, a payout may be determined basedon the card total. The player may receive a payout of approximately 4 to1 if the card total equals 8, 18, 9, or 19. The player may receive apayout of approximately 6 to 1 if the first card and the up card are ofthe same suit and the card total equals 8, 18, 9, or 19. Those skilledin the art will recognize that as the odds decrease, the payoutincreases. In some embodiments, the player may receive a payout ofapproximately 8 to 1 if the first card and the up card are of the samesuit, including a Jack, a Queen, a King, and also have a card total of18 or 19. For example, without limitation, 8 of Hearts with Jack ofHearts, or 9 of Spades with Queen of Spades. In some embodiments, theplayer may receive a payout of approximately 25 to 1 if the first cardand the up card are of the same suit, including an Ace, and also have acard total of 8, 18, 9, or 19. For example, without limitation, 7 ofHearts with Ace of Hearts, or 8 of Spades with Ace of Spades.Conversely, if the card total does not equal 8, 18, 9, or 19, the playerloses the secondary wager and the dealer collects a secondary wageramount.

In one embodiment, after the secondary wager is resolved, the dealer maycontinue by dealing a player second card and a dealer second card. Theprimary game may then commence based on the rules of the comparativecard game. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the secondarywager may not take too much time, or distract from the primary wager. Insome embodiments, the primary wager is not linked to the secondarywager. Each wager may be separate, with only the first cards beingutilized for both games. In one embodiment, the present invention may beplayed interactively or remotely through a processor or communicationdevice.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the method for placing asecondary wager on a card game may include steps for playing andwagering a comparative card game and placing both a primary wager and asecondary wager on the card game. A first Step may include providingequipment for the card game. The playing equipment may include, withoutlimitation, a game table, at least one standard deck of playing cards,cash, gaming chips, and/or credits. The game table may be configured toallow a dealer to deal to a plurality of players. Each player may facethe dealer on the game table. The game table may include a primary cardarea for receiving and consolidating the cards for the primary game.Additionally, the game table may include a primary wagering area forperforming the wagering functions. The game table may further include asecondary card area for receiving and consolidating the player firstcard and the dealer first card, which are determinative of the secondarywager. The game table may further include a secondary wagering area forperforming the wagering functions of the secondary wager.

A next Step may include each player placing a primary wager on theprimary wagering area to participate in the primary game. The primarygame may include, without limitation, blackjack, poker, baccarat, and acomparative card game. The method may include an additional Step of eachplayer placing an optional secondary wager on the secondary wageringarea to participate in the secondary wager of the secondary game. Thesecondary wager may include, without limitation, poker chips, cash, acheck, and an object. Those skilled in the art will recognize that theprimary wager may be larger than the secondary wager, though this is nota requirement. A next Step may comprise the dealer dealing each player aplayer first card and the dealer receiving a dealer first card, orup-card. The first cards may be utilized for both the secondary wager,and the subsequent primary wager.

A significant next Step, involves the dealer resolving each player'ssecondary game secondary wager based on the card total of the first cardand the dealer first card. The payout may include paying a player'swinning side wager approximately 4 to 1 if the card total for the firstcards equals 8, 18, 9, or 19. The payout may further include, paying theplayer's winning side wager approximately 6 to 1 if the two first cardsare of the same suit and the card total equals 8, 18, 9, or 19.

A next Step may include the dealer dealing each player a player secondcard and the dealer receiving a dealer second card, or hole card. Theprimary game may then continue, still using the first cards from thesecondary game. A final Step may comprise resolving the primary wagersaccording to the primary game results.

In yet another embodiment, an additional side wager may be utilized inconjunction with, or in lieu of the secondary wage. Similar to thesecondary wager, the additional side wager may take into account thecard total of both the player first card and the dealer first card todetermine the winner of the side wager. The card total may include asummation of the value of the first card and the dealer first card, orthe suit equivalents for the cards. In one embodiment that may be named“Natural Combination 8”, if the card total of the first card and the upcard is 8 or 18, the player may win the side wager. Another version ofthe side wager may be named “Natural Combination 9”, whereby if the cardtotal of the first card and the up card is 9 or 19, the player may winthe side wager. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the payoutswill be higher for the side wagers since the odds of the card totalbeing 8/18 or 9/19 is less. In some embodiments, the side wager maycomprise different card total numbers and different names.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an exemplary game table for a systemfor placing a secondary wager on a card game, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a methodfor placing a secondary wager on a comparative card game, such asblackjack, baccarat or mini-baccarat, in addition to a primary wager. Awinner of the secondary wager is determined based on a card total for adealt player first card and a dealer first card. The player first cardand the dealer first card may be compared to identify a card total,where the combinative hand value of both first cards must equal apredetermined sum, including, without limitation, 8, or 18, or 9, or 19.The player may win or lose the secondary wager based on the card total.A payout ratio may be utilized to determine a payout or loss for theplayer. After the secondary wager is resolved, the game continues todetermine the outcome and winning primary wager for the primary game.

The system may perform the wager with a comparative card game. Thecomparative card game may include, without limitation, blackjack, poker,baccarat, and a comparative game. The comparative card game may comprisea game between a player and a dealer (known as a banker in baccarat ormini-baccarat). The goal of the card game requires the player to reachor approach a predetermined hand value, or card total of the cards inplay in relation to the dealer. A player may play the comparative cardgame to place a primary wager and a secondary wager, both in the samegame. The secondary wager may be made and resolved at an early part ofthe card game. Afterwards, the card game may continue with the primarywager.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the card game may commenceon a game table 100. The game table may include a poker table, sized anddimensioned to display cards to a dealer and a plurality of players. Insome embodiments, the game table may be covered with baize, felt, orspeed cloth, for facilitating the sliding of cards on the game tablesurface. The game table may include an actual table or a fold-outtabletop surface. In one embodiment, a dealer may position on a flatedge of the game table, facing a plurality of players on a semicircularperiphery of the game table. The game table may include sufficientspaces and for playing and wagering on a primary game and a secondarygame.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the secondary game mayinitially be played to resolve a secondary wager. The primary gamecontinues after the secondary wager is resolved, based on the same firstcards dealt during the secondary game. In one embodiment of thesecondary game, a dealer may deal a player first card to each player onthe game table from a dealer card area 102. The dealer may also have adealer first card, or up card, which is visible to all the players. Theplayer first card and the dealer first card may be utilized for both theprimary wager and the secondary wager. In either case, additional cardsmay be dealt to continue the primary card game.

In one embodiment, upon acceptance of a secondary wager by the player,the player first card and the dealer first card may be utilized for asecondary wager. The player first card and the dealer first card may besegregated onto a secondary wager portion of the game table. Forexample, a secondary card area 108 may provide a space to segregate theplayer first card from additional cards, and to clarify that the card isbeing utilized for the secondary wager. A card total of both the playerfirst card and the dealer first card may be utilized to determine thewinner of the secondary wager. The card total may include a summation ofthe value of the first card and the up card, or the suit equivalents forthe cards.

In one embodiment, a predetermined card total may be utilized todetermine the winner of the secondary wager. For example, withoutlimitation, if the card total of the first card and the up card is 8,18, 9, or 19, the player may win the secondary wager. In someembodiments, a payout may be determined based on the card total. Theplayer may receive a payout of approximately 4 to 1 if the card totalequals 8, 18, 9, or 19. The player may receive a payout of approximately6 to 1 if the first card and the dealer (known as a banker in baccarator mini-baccarat) first card are of the same suit and the card totalequals 8, 18, 9, or 19. It is significant to note that a card total of8, 18, 9, or 19 constitute the Natural 8 or Natural 9, respectively.This is the essence of the Natural Baccarat, given the first two cards.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that as the odds decrease, thepayout increases. The player may receive a payout of approximately 8 to1 if the player first card and the dealer first card are of the samesuit, including a Jack, a Queen, a King, and also have a card total of18 or 19. For example, without limitation, 8 of Hearts with Jack ofHearts, or 9 of Spades with Queen of Spades. In some embodiments, theplayer may receive a payout of approximately 25 to 1 if the player firstcard and the dealer first card are of the same suit, including an Ace,and also have a card total of 8, 18, 9, or 19. For example, withoutlimitation, 7 of Hearts with Ace of Hearts, or 8 of Spades with Ace ofSpades. Conversely, if the card total does not equal 8, 18, 9, or 19,the player loses the secondary wager and the dealer collects thesecondary wager amount. In one alternative embodiment, the playing cardsmay only include numbers, but not have any suits in the deck. Forexample, without limitation, no Aces, Kings, Queens, or Jacks.

In one embodiment, after the secondary wager is resolved, the dealer maycontinue by dealing a player second card and a dealer second card into asecondary card area 108. The primary game may then commence in a primarywagering area 106, based on the rules of the comparative card game.Those skilled in the art will recognize that the secondary wager may nottake too much time, or distract from the primary wager. In someembodiments, the primary wager is not linked to the secondary wager.Each wager may be separate.

In one embodiment, the present invention may be played interactively orremotely through a processor. For example, without limitation, a playermay play the card game online through the use of the internet, on asmart phone, through live relay video, and through a video game.However, in other embodiments, the card game may be played by aplurality of players located in different regions.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart diagram for a method for placing asecondary wager on a card game, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention. In the present embodiment, a method 200 for placing asecondary wager on a card game may include a first Step 202 of providingequipment for a comparative card game. The playing equipment mayinclude, without limitation, a game table, at least one standard deck ofplaying cards, cash, gaming chips, and credits. The game table may beconfigured to allow a dealer to deal with a plurality of players. Eachplayer may face the dealer on the game table. The game table may includea primary card area for receiving and consolidating the cards for theprimary game. Additionally, a primary wagering area for performing thewagering functions. The game table may further include a secondary cardarea for receiving and consolidating the player first card and thedealer first card, which are determinative of the secondary wager. Thegame table may further include a secondary wagering area for performingthe wagering functions of the secondary wager.

A next Step 204 may include each player placing a primary wager on aprimary game. The primary wager may be placed on the primary wageringarea of the game table. The primary game may include, withoutlimitation, blackjack, poker, baccarat, mini baccarat, and a comparativegame.

The method may include an additional Step 206 of each player placing anoptional secondary wager on the secondary game. The secondary wager maybe placed on the secondary wagering area of the game table. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize that the primary wager may be largerthan the secondary wager, though this is not a requirement.

A next Step 208 may comprise the dealer dealing each player a playerfirst card and the dealer receiving a dealer first card, or up-card. Thefirst cards may be utilized for both the secondary wager, and thesubsequent primary wager.

A significant Step 210 may involve the dealer resolving each player'ssecondary wager based on the card total of the first card and the dealerfirst card. The payout may include paying a player's winning side wagerapproximately 4 to 1 if the card total for the first cards equals 8, 18,9, or 19. The payout may further include, paying the player's winningside wager approximately 6 to 1 if the two first cards are of the samesuit and the card total equals 8, 18, 9, or 19. For example, withoutlimitation, if the card total of the first card and the up card is 8,18, 9, or 19, the player may win the secondary wager. In someembodiments, a payout may be determined based on the card total. Theplayer may receive a payout of approximately 4 to 1 if the card totalequals 8, 18, 9, or 19. The player may receive a payout of approximately6 to 1 if the first card and the dealer first card are of the same suitand the card total equals 8, 18, 9, or 19. However, in additionalembodiments, different permutations or combinations of first cards maybe utilized to determine the winner. For example, without limitation,the higher or lower card; the card total of 10 or 20; and utilizing anincomplete deck of cards.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that as the odds decrease, thepayout increases. The player may receive a payout of approximately 8 to1 if the player first card and the dealer first card are of the samesuit, including a Jack, a Queen, a King, and also have a card total of18 or 19. For example, without limitation, 8 of Hearts with Jack ofHearts, or 9 of Spades with Queen of Spades. In some embodiments, theplayer may receive a payout of approximately 25 to 1 if the player firstcard and the dealer first card are of the same suit, including an Ace,and also have a card total of 8, 18, 9, or 19. For example, withoutlimitation, 7 of Hearts with Ace of Hearts, or 8 of Spades with Ace ofSpades. Conversely, if the card total does not equal 8, 18, 9, or 19,the player loses the secondary wager and the dealer collects thesecondary wager amount.

In yet another embodiment, an additional side wager may be utilized inconjunction with, or in lieu of the secondary wage. In one embodiment,the side wager may be named, without limitation, “Natural Combination”,“Natural Combination 8”, and “Natural Combination 9”, “Lucky Natural”,or “Lucky Combination”. Similar to the secondary wager, the additionalside wager may take into account the card total of both the player firstcard and the dealer first card to determine the winner of the sidewager. The card total for the side wager may include a summation of thevalue of the first card and the dealer first card, or the suitequivalents for the cards. In one embodiment named “Natural Combination8”, if the card total of the first card and the up card is 8 or 18, theplayer may win the side wager. Another version of the side wager may benamed “Natural Combination 9”, whereby if the card total of the firstcard and the up card is 9 or 19, the player may win the side wager.Those skilled in the art will recognize that the payouts will be higherfor the side wagers since the odds of the card total being 8, 18, 9, or19 is less. In some embodiments, the side wager may comprise differentcard total numbers and different names.

A next Step 212 may include the dealer dealing each player a playersecond card and the dealer receiving a dealer second card, or hole card.The primary game may then continue, still using the first cards from thesecondary game. A next Step 214 may include playing the primary game,such as blackjack or mini baccarat. The primary game is played to itsconclusion to determine the winner. A final Step 216 may compriseresolving the primary wager according to the outcome of the primarygame. The card game may then be repeated with or without the secondarywager or the side wager.

In one alternative embodiment, the primary wager may be cancelled by thefirst player if the loss from the secondary wager exceeded apredetermined threshold. In yet another alternative embodiment, the cardtotal for determining the secondary wager winner is the total of 10 or20. In yet another alternative embodiment, the higher or lower firstcard wins the secondary wager. In yet another alternative embodiment,the primary wager may be doubled in lieu of paying a loss for thesecondary wager—double or nothing.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart diagram for a method for placing asecondary wager on a blackjack card game, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. In the present invention, a method300 for placing a secondary wager on a blackjack card game

An initial Step 302 may include providing one or more standard decks ofplaying card, cash, gaming chips, and/or credits; providing each playerwith a main wagering area for the primary game of blackjack, and atleast one side wagering area for the side bet of the secondary gamewhich is based on the total of the player hand's first card and thedealer hand's first card;

The method may then comprise an additional Step 304 of each playerplacing a primary wager on their primary wagering area to participate inthe primary blackjack game. A next Step 306 may comprise each playerplacing an optional side wager on their side wagering areas toparticipate in the side bet of the secondary game. A Step 308 comprisesthe dealer dealing the player hand's first card and the dealer hand'sfirst card.

In a Step 310, the dealer resolves each player's secondary game sidewager based on the card total of the player hand's first card and thedealer hand's first card. The method may then allow for paying thewinning side wagers according to predetermined payout odds. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize that combinations with lesser odds mayhave greater payouts. If a total card of the first cards equals 8, 18,9, or 19. A Step 312 may comprise paying the winning wager. If the cardof the first cards does not equal 8, 18, 9, or 19, a Step 314 comprisestaking the losing side wager bets.

A Step 316 may include the dealer dealing the player hand's second cardand the dealer hand's second card and then continuing on with theprimary game of blackjack. A Step 318 may include resuming the blackjackcard game to its conclusion to determine the outcome for the primarywager. A final Step 320 may comprise resolving the main wagers accordingto the blackjack card game results. The payout is based on predeterminedodds.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart diagram for a method for placing asecondary wager on a Mini Baccarat card game, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. In the present invention, a method400 for placing a secondary wager on a Mini Baccarat card game

An initial Step 402 may include providing one or more standard decks ofplaying card, cash, gaming chips, and/or credits. The game table mayprovide each player with a main wagering area for the primary game ofMini Baccarat, and at least one secondary wagering area for thesecondary wager of the secondary game, which is based on the total ofthe player hand's first card and the banker hand's first card.

The method may then comprise an additional Step 404 of each playerplacing a main wager on their primary wagering area to participate inthe primary Mini Baccarat game. A next Step 406 may comprise each playerplacing an optional secondary wager on their secondary wagering areas toparticipate in the side bet of the secondary game. A Step 408 comprisesthe dealer dealing the player hand's first card and the banker hand'sfirst card.

In a Step 410, the dealer resolves each player's secondary wager basedon the card total of the player hand's first card and the banker hand'sfirst card. The method may then allow for paying the winning side wagersaccording to predetermined payout odds. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that combinations with lesser odds may have greater payouts.If a total card of the first cards equals 8, 18, 9, or 19. A Step 412may comprise paying the winning wager. If the card of the first cardsdoes not equal 8, 18, 9, or 19, a Step 414 comprises taking the losingside wager bets.

A Step 416 may include the dealer dealing the player hand's second cardand the banker hand's second card and then continuing on with theprimary Mini Baccarat game. A Step 418 may include resuming the primaryMini Baccarat game to its conclusion to determine the outcome for theprimary wager. A final Step 420 may comprise resolving the main wagersaccording to the primary Mini Baccarat game results. The payout is basedon predetermined odds.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary client/server systemwhich may be used by an exemplary web-enabled/networked embodiment ofthe present invention. In the present invention, a communication system500 includes a multiplicity of clients with a sampling of clientsdenoted as a client 502 and a client 504, a multiplicity of localnetworks with a sampling of networks denoted as a local network 506 anda local network 508, a global network 510 and a multiplicity of serverswith a sampling of servers denoted as a server 512 and a server 514.

Client 502 may communicate bi-directionally with local network 506 via acommunication channel 516. Client 504 may communicate bi-directionallywith local network 508 via a communication channel 518. Local network506 may communicate bi-directionally with global network 510 via acommunication channel 520. Local network 508 may communicatebi-directionally with global network 510 via a communication channel522. Global network 510 may communicate bi-directionally with server 512and server 514 via a communication channel 524. Server 512 and server514 may communicate bi-directionally with each other via communicationchannel 524. Furthermore, clients 502, 504, local networks 506, 508,global network 510 and servers 512, 514 may each communicatebi-directionally with each other.

In one embodiment, global network 510 may operate as the Internet. Itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that communication system500 may take many different forms. Non-limiting examples of forms forcommunication system 500 include local area networks (LANs), wide areanetworks (WANs), wired telephone networks, wireless networks, or anyother network supporting data communication between respective entities.

Clients 502 and 504 may take many different forms. Non-limiting examplesof clients 502 and 504 include personal computers, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), cellular phones and smartphones.

Client 502 includes a CPU 526, a pointing device 528, a keyboard 530, amicrophone 532, a printer 534, a memory 536, a mass memory storage 538,a GUI 540, a video camera 542, an input/output interface 544 and anetwork interface 546.

CPU 526, pointing device 528, keyboard 530, microphone 532, printer 534,memory 536, mass memory storage 538, GUI 540, video camera 542,input/output interface 544 and network interface 546 may communicate ina unidirectional manner or a bi-directional manner with each other via acommunication channel 548. Communication channel 548 may be configuredas a single communication channel or a multiplicity of communicationchannels.

CPU 526 may be comprised of a single processor or multiple processors.CPU 526 may be of various types including micro-controllers (e.g., withembedded RAM/ROM) and microprocessors such as programmable devices(e.g., RISC or SISC based, or CPLDs and FPGAs) and devices not capableof being programmed such as gate array ASICs (Application SpecificIntegrated Circuits) or general purpose microprocessors.

As is well known in the art, memory 536 is used typically to transferdata and instructions to CPU 526 in a bi-directional manner. Memory 536,as discussed previously, may include any suitable computer-readablemedia, intended for data storage, such as those described aboveexcluding any wired or wireless transmissions unless specifically noted.Mass memory storage 538 may also be coupled bi-directionally to CPU 526and provides additional data storage capacity and may include any of thecomputer-readable media described above. Mass memory storage 538 may beused to store programs, data and the like and is typically a secondarystorage medium such as a hard disk. It will be appreciated that theinformation retained within mass memory storage 538, may, in appropriatecases, be incorporated in standard fashion as part of memory 536 asvirtual memory.

CPU 526 may be coupled to GUI 540. GUI 540 enables a user to view theoperation of computer operating system and software. CPU 526 may becoupled to pointing device 528. Non-limiting examples of pointing device528 include computer mouse, trackball and touchpad. Pointing device 528enables a user with the capability to maneuver a computer cursor aboutthe viewing area of GUI 540 and select areas or features in the viewingarea of GUI 540. CPU 526 may be coupled to keyboard 530. Keyboard 530enables a user with the capability to input alphanumeric textualinformation to CPU 526. CPU 526 may be coupled to microphone 532.Microphone 532 enables audio produced by a user to be recorded,processed and communicated by CPU 526. CPU 526 may be connected toprinter 534. Printer 534 enables a user with the capability to printinformation to a sheet of paper. CPU 526 may be connected to videocamera 542. Video camera 542 enables video produced or captured by userto be recorded, processed and communicated by CPU 526.

CPU 526 may also be coupled to input/output interface 544 that connectsto one or more input/output devices such as such as CD-ROM, videomonitors, track balls, mice, keyboards, microphones, touch-sensitivedisplays, transducer card readers, magnetic or paper tape readers,tablets, styluses, voice or handwriting recognizers, or other well-knowninput devices such as, of course, other computers.

Finally, CPU 526 optionally may be coupled to network interface 546which enables communication with an external device such as a databaseor a computer or telecommunications or internet network using anexternal connection shown generally as communication channel 516, whichmay be implemented as a hardwired or wireless communications link usingsuitable conventional technologies. With such a connection, CPU 526might receive information from the network, or might output informationto a network in the course of performing the method steps described inthe teachings of the present invention.

Those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of and inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention, that any of theforegoing steps and/or system modules may be suitably replaced,reordered, removed and additional steps and/or system modules may beinserted depending upon the needs of the particular application, andthat the systems of the foregoing embodiments may be implemented usingany of a wide variety of suitable processes and system modules, and isnot limited to any particular computer hardware, software, middleware,firmware, microcode and the like. For any method steps described in thepresent application that can be carried out on a computing machine, atypical computer system can, when appropriately configured or designed,serve as a computer system in which those aspects of the invention maybe embodied.

It will be further apparent to those skilled in the art that at least aportion of the novel method steps and/or system components of thepresent invention may be practiced and/or located in location(s)possibly outside the jurisdiction of the United States of America (USA),whereby it will be accordingly readily recognized that at least a subsetof the novel method steps and/or system components in the foregoingembodiments must be practiced within the jurisdiction of the USA for thebenefit of an entity therein or to achieve an object of the presentinvention. Thus, some alternate embodiments of the present invention maybe configured to comprise a smaller subset of the foregoing means forand/or steps described that the applications designer will selectivelydecide, depending upon the practical considerations of the particularimplementation, to carry out and/or locate within the jurisdiction ofthe USA. For example, any of the foregoing described method steps and/orsystem components which may be performed remotely over a network (e.g.,without limitation, a remotely located server) may be performed and/orlocated outside of the jurisdiction of the USA while the remainingmethod steps and/or system components (e.g., without limitation, alocally located client) of the forgoing embodiments are typicallyrequired to be located/performed in the USA for practicalconsiderations. In client-server architectures, a remotely locatedserver typically generates and transmits required information to a USbased client, for use according to the teachings of the presentinvention. Depending upon the needs of the particular application, itwill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of theteachings of the present invention, which aspects of the presentinvention can or should be located locally and which can or should belocated remotely. Thus, for any claims construction of the followingclaim limitations that are construed under 35 USC §112 (6) it isintended that the corresponding means for and/or steps for carrying outthe claimed function are the ones that are locally implemented withinthe jurisdiction of the USA, while the remaining aspect(s) performed orlocated remotely outside the USA are not intended to be construed under35 USC §112 (6). In some embodiments, the methods and/or systemcomponents which may be located and/or performed remotely include,without limitation:

It is noted that according to USA law, all claims must be set forth as acoherent, cooperating set of limitations that work in functionalcombination to achieve a useful result as a whole. Accordingly, for anyclaim having functional limitations interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6)where the embodiment in question is implemented as a client-serversystem with a remote server located outside of the USA, each suchrecited function is intended to mean the function of combining, in alogical manner, the information of that claim limitation with at leastone other limitation of the claim. For example, in client-server systemswhere certain information claimed under 35 USC §112 (6) is/(are)dependent on one or more remote servers located outside the USA, it isintended that each such recited function under 35 USC §112 (6) is to beinterpreted as the function of the local system receiving the remotelygenerated information required by a locally implemented claimlimitation, wherein the structures and or steps which enable, andbreathe life into the expression of such functions claimed under 35 USC§112 (6) are the corresponding steps and/or means located within thejurisdiction of the USA that receive and deliver that information to theclient (e.g., without limitation, client-side processing andtransmission networks in the USA). When this application is prosecutedor patented under a jurisdiction other than the USA, then “USA” in theforegoing should be replaced with the pertinent country or countries orlegal organization(s) having enforceable patent infringementjurisdiction over the present application, and “35 USC §112 (6)” shouldbe replaced with the closest corresponding statute in the patent laws ofsuch pertinent country or countries or legal organization(s).

All the features disclosed in this specification, including anyaccompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternativefeatures serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unlessexpressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise,each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series ofequivalent or similar features.

It is noted that according to USA law 35 USC § 112 (1), all claims mustbe supported by sufficient disclosure in the present patentspecification, and any material known to those skilled in the art neednot be explicitly disclosed. However, 35 USC §112 (6) requires thatstructures corresponding to functional limitations interpreted under 35USC §112 (6) must be explicitly disclosed in the patent specification.Moreover, the USPTO's Examination policy of initially treating andsearching prior art under the broadest interpretation of a “mean for”claim limitation implies that the broadest initial search on 112(6)functional limitation would have to be conducted to support a legallyvalid Examination on that USPTO policy for broadest interpretation of“mean for” claims. Accordingly, the USPTO will have discovered amultiplicity of prior art documents including disclosure of specificstructures and elements which are suitable to act as correspondingstructures to satisfy all functional limitations in the below claimsthat are interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6) when such correspondingstructures are not explicitly disclosed in the foregoing patentspecification. Therefore, for any invention element(s)/structure(s)corresponding to functional claim limitation(s), in the below claimsinterpreted under 35 USC §112 (6), which is/are not explicitly disclosedin the foregoing patent specification, yet do exist in the patent and/ornon-patent documents found during the course of USPTO searching,Applicant(s) incorporate all such functionally corresponding structuresand related enabling material herein by reference for the purpose ofproviding explicit structures that implement the functional meansclaimed. Applicant(s) request(s) that fact finders during any claimsconstruction proceedings and/or examination of patent allowabilityproperly identify and incorporate only the portions of each of thesedocuments discovered during the broadest interpretation search of 35 USC§112 (6) limitation, which exist in at least one of the patent and/ornon-patent documents found during the course of normal USPTO searchingand or supplied to the USPTO during prosecution. Applicant(s) alsoincorporate by reference the bibliographic citation information toidentify all such documents comprising functionally correspondingstructures and related enabling material as listed in any PTO Form-892or likewise any information disclosure statements (IDS) entered into thepresent patent application by the USPTO or Applicant(s) or any 3^(rd)parties. Applicant(s) also reserve its right to later amend the presentapplication to explicitly include citations to such documents and/orexplicitly include the functionally corresponding structures which wereincorporate by reference above.

Thus, for any invention element(s)/structure(s) corresponding tofunctional claim limitation(s), in the below claims, that areinterpreted under 35 USC §112 (6), which is/are not explicitly disclosedin the foregoing patent specification, Applicant(s) have explicitlyprescribed which documents and material to include the otherwise missingdisclosure, and have prescribed exactly which portions of such patentand/or non-patent documents should be incorporated by such reference forthe purpose of satisfying the disclosure requirements of 35 USC §112(6). Applicant(s) note that all the identified documents above which areincorporated by reference to satisfy 35 USC §112 (6) necessarily have afiling and/or publication date prior to that of the instant application,and thus are valid prior documents to incorporated by reference in theinstant application.

Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention,other equivalent or alternative methods of implementing a secondarywager card game while playing a primary card game according to thepresent invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Variousaspects of the invention have been described above by way ofillustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended tolimit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. The particularimplementation of the secondary wager card game while playing a primarycard game may vary depending upon the particular context or application.By way of example, and not limitation, the secondary wager card gamewhile playing a primary card game described in the foregoing wereprincipally directed to a method of playing a casino Blackjack card gameincluding a secondary wager based on the card total of a player's firstcard and the dealer's first card implementations; however, similartechniques may instead be applied to any game that utilizes comparativefunctions, which implementations of the present invention arecontemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The inventionis thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the following claims. It is to befurther understood that not all of the disclosed embodiments in theforegoing specification will necessarily satisfy or achieve each of theobjects, advantages, or improvements described in the foregoingspecification.

Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or letteredsolely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numberingand lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken toindicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.

The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. Section 1.72(b)requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to ascertain the natureand gist of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with theunderstanding that it will not be used to limit or interpret the scopeor meaning of the claims. The following claims are hereby incorporatedinto the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as aseparate embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: providing equipment for acomparative card game; placing a primary wager on a primary game;placing a secondary wager on a secondary game; dealing a player firstcard and a dealer first card; resolving said secondary wager with apredetermined payout, an outcome of said secondary wager dependant on apredetermined card total from said player first card and said dealerfirst card; dealing a player second card and a dealer second card;playing said primary game; and resolving said primary wager.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, in which said equipment comprises a deck of cards, agame table, a plurality of gaming chips, cash, and credits.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2, in which said game table comprises a primary wageringarea for placing said primary wager, and a secondary wagering area forplacing said secondary wager.
 4. The system of claim 3, in which saidprimary game comprises blackjack, or poker, or baccarat, or minibaccarat.
 5. The system of claim 4, in which a dealer distributes saidplayer first card and said dealer first card to said primary wagingarea.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein said secondary wager isoptional.
 7. The system of claim 6, in which said secondary wager isbased on a card total of said first card and said dealer first card. 8.The system of claim 7, in which said secondary wager is won if said cardtotal equals 8, or 18, or 9, or
 19. 9. The system of claim 8, in whichsaid secondary wager is lost if said card total does not equal 8, or 18,or 9, or
 19. 10. The system of claim 9, in which said predeterminedpayout comprises a 4 to 1 payout to a winner.
 11. The system of claim10, in which said secondary wager comprises a name of Lucky NaturalCombination, and/or Natural Combination 8, and/or Natural Combination 9,and/or Lucky Natural, and/or Lucky Combination.
 12. The system of claim11, in which said Lucky Natural Combination comprises a winning wager ifsaid card total of said player first card and said dealer first cardcomprises 8, or 18, or 9, or
 19. 13. The system of claim 12, in whichsaid Natural Combination 8 comprises a winning wager if said card totalof said player first card and said dealer first card comprises 8 or 18.14. The system of claim 13, in which said Natural Combination 9comprises a winning wager if said card total of said player first cardand said dealer first card comprises 9 or
 19. 15. The system of claim14, in which said secondary wager for a mini baccarat card gamecomprises Dragon Bet and/or Panda Bet.
 16. The system of claim 15, inwhich said player first card and said dealer first card contribute tosaid primary game and said secondary game.
 17. The system of claim 16,in which said primary wager cancels if a loss from said secondary wagerexceeds a predetermined threshold.
 18. The system of claim 17, in whichsaid primary wager is doubled if said secondary wager exceeds saidpredetermined threshold.
 19. A method comprising: providing equipmentfor a blackjack card game; placing a primary wager on a primary wageringarea for said blackjack card game; placing a secondary wager on asecondary wagering area for a secondary game; dealing a player firstcard and a dealer first card; resolving said secondary wager with apredetermined payout; dealing a player second card and a dealer secondcard; resuming said blackjack card game; and resolving said primarywager.
 20. A method comprising: providing equipment for a mini baccaratcard game; placing a primary wager on a primary wagering area for saidmini baccarat card game; placing a secondary wager on a secondarywagering area for a secondary game; dealing a player first card and abanker first card; resolving said secondary wager with a predeterminedpayout; dealing a player second card and a banker second card; resumingsaid mini baccarat card game; and resolving said primary wager.